Two medicines, side by side
Losartan vs quinapril
Losartan and quinapril are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of losartan since 1995 and of quinapril since 1991. In FDA's classes, losartan is an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker and quinapril an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the losartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 20, 2026); the quinapril FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 14, 2023).
Highlights of the losartan record
Losartan (Cozaar) · label of January 20, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue COZAAR as soon as possible. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue COZAAR as soon as possible. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.
Used for
From the label: indicationsCOZAAR is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: Treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure in adults and children greater than 6 years old. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. ( 1.1 ) Reduction of the risk of stroke in patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 14, 1995
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0327 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 77
Highlights of the quinapril record
Quinapril (Accupril) · label of December 14, 2023
FETAL TOXICITY
When pregnancy is detected, discontinue quinapril tablets as soon as possible.
Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus. See WARNINGS : Fetal Toxicity
Used for
From the label: indicationsHypertension Quinapril tablets USP are indicated for the treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 19, 1991
- Generic labelers
- 9 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- In shortage
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Losartan label of January 20, 2026, Quinapril label of December 14, 2023); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do losartan and quinapril differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, losartan is an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker and quinapril an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor.
Half-life, in each label's words: Losartan, “The terminal half-life of losartan is about 2 hours and of the metabolite is about 6-9 hours.”; Quinapril, “Following multiple oral dosing of quinapril, there is an effective accumulation half-life of quinaprilat of …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: losartan since 2010; quinapril since 2004 (Drugs@FDA).
| Losartan | Quinapril | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Chronic kidney disease, Stroke prevention | High blood pressure, Heart failure |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Angiotensin II [formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II)] is a potent vasoconstrictor, the primary vasoactive hormone of the renin-angiotensin system, and an important component … | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The terminal half-life of losartan is about 2 hours and of the metabolite is about 6-9 hours. | Following multiple oral dosing of quinapril, there is an effective accumulation half-life of quinaprilat of approximately 3 hours, and peak plasma quinaprilat concentrations are observed approximately 2 hours post-dose. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 14, 1995 | November 19, 1991 |
| First generic approved | April 6, 2010 | December 15, 2004 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 9 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0327 per tablet (Losartan potassium 50 mg tablet) | n/a |
| 12-month price change | +2% | n/a |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | In shortage |
| Recalls recorded | 77 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 200,566 | 7,842 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to losartan
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions